It's a Wrap -2023

As I climbed out of the pool today from my water aerobics class, I realized I actually kept one new year's resolution from 2023 – water aerobics. Easy, since it was good stretching, a tiny amount of exertion, and a little bit of social activity, checking all those healthy living boxes for people my age. Might be the first resolution I ever kept. The pressure's on for 2024, just hours away. How about you? How long were you able to keep your resolutions?

But first, how was everyone's Christmas? From photos off social media and elsewhere, it looks like there were a) get-togethers across the Dickson USA; b) sicknesses shared in those get-togethers and c) full meals and carols and presents and decorated trees and even movies. 

We saw photos of Aunt Johanna playing with Kiernan, and Kiernan watching a movie, shielding his Elmo's eyes from the scary parts. We saw a trip to a park in upostate NY and a Lego Camp photo with completed Tai fighters. We saw Christmas trees in Illinois, and heard all about the extended time spent at the table. We saw Simon and his family at the theater, and we went to "Migration," but to be honest, it's eminently skip-pable. 

What was missing? SNOW. At least here. We did have ice, and Thomas and John spent hours with their assorted swords chipping away at the ice on the edges of brooks and lake. But then, after a few days, even the ice melted. That hasn't stopped the sword activity.

Other activities around here with Joe and Leonor and family here, have been Legos, library trips, Star Wars books, Aladdin (closely reaching a Guiness Book of World Records for times read), trips to Panera, trips to the doctor and pharmacy, carol and church services, traditions in this household anyway of listening to John Denver and the Muppets and watching the Muppet Christmas Carol and Love Actually (not my idea, but no one had to twist my arm.) Meals included Duck Rice, a Portuguese tradition and stuffed shells and prime rib, with great cookies!

And, as this excerpt from Annie's letter indicates, some of those traditions extended to India this year:  "We spent Christmas in Chennai. I got the most syrupy sweet drink at Starbucks while we walked around a decked out mall, we sang carols at Christmas mass, I watched The Holiday and Home Alone 2 (the superior of the series), listened to John Denver & The Muppets holiday album while making pancakes, and we had a traditional Christmas dinner of Thai Green Curry and vegan pizza. Really great."

Before the DC folks arrived, Mary and I went to NYC for our wedding anniversary. It's amazing how much you can cram into one 24-hour period in that city, even if you arrive with no plans at all. We did go to a play, "How to Dance in Ohio," a musical about autistic young adults, with autistic performers. We also tracked down a few Herman Melville sites, and weaved our way over to the Strand Book Store and Greenwich Village. We even mastered the subway system, which looked to us surprisingly clean, a step up from pre-pandemic days.

Some medical news. Andrew had a heart check-up and it looks like he's in store for by-pass surgery, some time early in the new year. Not fun, but to quote David, he'll feel instantly better after the operation.

One more bit of news from here. I opened up our local paper to see that Darrow School might close down at the end of this year. They need $6-7 million to keep operating, and then the same for next year. Many Dickson memories from Darrow.

So, back to the resolutions. We heard in church this week about families, and choices. Choices to be gentle, patient, forgiving, polite. You get the picture; these are choices we can make. Resolutions are choices, in a way.

And with that thought for the new year, here's to choices in 2024!

Love from up here.